Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor John-Paul TaylorORCiD, Dr Michael FirbankORCiD, Dr Jiabao He, Nicola Barnett, Dr Sarah Pearce, Dr Quoc Vuong, Professor Ian McKeith, Professor John O'Brien
Background Visual hallucinations and visuoperceptual deficits are common in dementia with Lewy bodies, suggesting that cortical visual function may be abnormal. Aims To investigate: (1) cortical visual function using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); and (2) the nature and severity of perfusion deficits in visual areas using arterial spin labelling (ASL)-MRI. Method In total, 17 participants with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB group) and 19 similarly aged controls were presented with simple visual stimuli (checkerboard, moving dots, and objects) during fMRI and subsequently underwent ASL-MRI (DLB group n = 15, control group n = 19). Results Functional activations were evident in visual areas in both the DLB and control groups in response to checkerboard and objects stimuli but reduced visual area V5/MT (middle temporal) activation occurred in the DLB group in response to motion stimuli. Posterior cortical perfusion deficits occurred in the DLB group, particularly in higher visual areas. Conclusions Higher visual areas, particularly occipito-parietal, appear abnormal in dementia with Lewy bodies, while there is a preservation of function in lower visual areas (V1 and V2/3).
Author(s): Taylor JP, Firbank MJ, He JB, Barnett N, Pearce S, Livingstone A, Vuong Q, McKeith IG, O'Brien JT
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry
Year: 2012
Volume: 200
Issue: 6
Pages: 491-498
Print publication date: 12/04/2012
Date deposited: 10/06/2013
ISSN (print): 0007-1250
ISSN (electronic): 1472-1465
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.099432
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.099432
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
